I whimpered to myself as I sat up rubbing my head with my knuckles. My head was killing me and it took longer for my eyes to adjust light. The tv was on and I heard a low voice let out a small groan of. “Wide the hell open but can’t make a fucking lay up.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvl2iNgCPI
I turned towards the sound of the voice and saw Mr. Benny underneath the covers of his bed. Gamba in a much smaller form almost the size of a kitten resting on top of his legs. “I told you he was terrible.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqv9raGkdc
“Shut up you overgrown kitten.” Mr. Benny said, giving him a small slap on the back of his head. At that moment he caught my eye and gave me a gentle smile. “Good evening, Lady Ivy.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaLk79qpIa
I rubbed my eyes for a moment before stretching my arms over my head. I head my joints and muscles starting to snap themselves awake. “How long was I asleep?”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8lU9hZqGM
“Nearly eight hours.” Mr. Benny motioned towards the clock on the wall and sure enough it was nearly nine o'clock. My butler pulled his covers up getting a small groan of discomfort from Gamba who leapt off and in a few seconds returned to his true size. “Don’t be bashful now that the lady is awake.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGkSeyCmlE
“Shut up.” Gamba said firmly.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI4bKtxKpb
Mr. Benny came to sit on the edge of my bed. “How are you doing?” He asked softly.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1E9njnclN
“I am okay, I think.” I said before wrapping my arms around him in a hug. “Thank you for that, and don’t you dare say a word about this. Especially not to Zinnie.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPP2sexLm6g
“Your secret is safe with me.” Mr. Benny said with a small chuckle. “Trust me, I have done the same thing for your sisters at least once. Episcally Poppy when she hires me.” He patted me on the back a few times before breaking our hug. “What are you gonna do now? Maybe head back to bed?”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzai0moaBiP
I shook my head. “I’m gonna go for a ride tonight and get some air, maybe sneak into a hospital to see if I can find Ori or something.” I swung myself out of bed taking a few steps to catch my balance. “Can you get an outfit ready for me, not my combat gear but something warm.” I don’t know why but suddenly a different idea came to my mind. “Something cute Mr. Benny, I have another idea.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVZye0B2sb
“As you wish, Lady Ivy.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50pw0efrLk
“Please,” I said, holding up my hand. “Just call me Ivy, no more lady.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhzw9htVM0
“Any reason why, Ivy?” He asked.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAx1IvbcRFn
“Because I like you,” I said with a small grin creeping up on my face. I took my phone off my nightstand before stepping into the bathroom for a much needed shower. I contemplated staying in that shower all night before going back under the covers to sleep the rest of the day. As I stepped out of the shower, a pair of black leggings, a long sleeved leopard skin top, my pink boots, and a light pink jacket.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpnblFF9te
Once I had changed, Mr. Benny was waiting for me at the door with a brand new hat. It was pink like my boats and jacket, but around the edge it had what looked to be white gemstones and a dark pink poof ball on the top. He walked over and got it settled on the top of my head before giving me a smile. “When did you get me this hat?”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmTcLOqv00
“While you were asleep I went and picked one up for you. A small present from me to you.” Mr. Benny stated before walking back towards his bed. “If you need me, give me a call and stay safe tonight.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8wSQu5A2q
“Don’t worry.” I said putting a few things into my small backpack, including two of my last four vials of poison I had left. “I am just gonna go out and maybe explore for a bit. I doubt Ori is still at that hospital anyway, besides I know where she is gonna strike next so I have two days or so.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsKRm8nvqy
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaUmUOUnqp
“Your stomach is quacking right now sissy,” Aiko said as I removed my helmet and placed it on the seat of my bike. “Why are you so nervous anyway?”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3wc7jNGzM
“I am not nervous, you little brat.” I said stubbornly. I walked around front to confirm that this was the right place. A bright silver sigh that read The Eternity Nightclub, there was a small line of teenages waiting at the front door. A few girls shivering in the cold winter air dressed in scampi outfits such as tight leggings and far to small shorts that my mother might kill me if I even tried on. A few boys in tight jeans and leather coats trying far too hard to look cool. I stepped to the front of the line where a tall college aged boy was waiting. He was wearing a long winter coat and sucking on a vape pen, the mist that came out his mouth smelling like lemon.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCgaFy79Ww
“Get to the back of the line.” He said sharply. “Did you not see the others waiting to come in, little girl?”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rX7WY6VBI
“Yes I saw them.” I said jumping over the velvet rope that separated him from the crowd. “I just didn’t care, now can you do me a favor and go and get Carter Dawnbreaker, my business is with him tonight.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mb6OI1pOZ
I felt someone grab the back of my coat and spin around. A tall girl with a cute round face and blue eyes glared at me. “Maybe you didn’t hear him, he said get to the back of the line!”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXH4GVAMWvM
“Didn’t you hear me?” I asked walking forward to look her properly in the eyes, kinda wishing I was a few inches taller. “My business is with Carter Dawnbreaker.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDNMLm6tts
“I doubt he will have any interest in a little girl like you.” She responded with a cheeky grin exposing pearly white teeth. “I am pretty sure he is gonna enjoy me and my friends' company far better than yours.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDmOEB9ZWn
“Are you sure about that?” I turned around as that familiar voice filled the air. Carter was standing there dressed in white jeans and a white shirt with the design of a wolf on it. His orange hair seemed even brighter. Next to him was an orange wolf. He looked over at me and just his warm orange eyes made my face flush a bit. “I was wondering how long it would take you to get her,e Ivy Oren. Come on inside, welcome to my home away from home.” He offered his arm out to me and just to make this girl terribly jealous I wrapped myself around his outstretched arm allowing him to pull me closer to him. “Also, Big Michael, you can let the first 5 people in behind this girl and her friends.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NB2jrDuS3
That girl swore loudly as I was pulled into the club doors. Immediately a calming smell of lavender filled my nose. This entryway had a row of locker to the left, and across from the hooks that hung different coats and hats. “May I take your coat?” Carter asked.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKNVlh1lct
“Of course, you may.” I said letting him come behind me to take my pink coat. While he went to hang it up, I took a better look at this plain entry way. It was a dark velvet color ranging from the walls to the carpet-like surface I was standing on. The deep purple had a few wet footprints leading towards a large set of double doors. The door on the right opened up and the loud boom of the base came inside the room we were in. Off to the side was a stairway with a small sign that read. “Rebecca’s Bar.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUsF3MO5mL
“Pretty nice place you have here,” I said, debating where to go first. “Does your momma know you have it?”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7z26J4kIe
“Not exactly.” Carter said with a small smirk. “Not easy to convince her to let me build a bar for teenages in downtown newyork. So instead I bought and ungraded someone else's work free of charge. Now you look like you are hungry, so how about we head to the bar and than work that appetite off on the dance floor later?”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDINskHIlpA
“Does this bar sell alcoholic drinks?” I asked.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgquptymCn
“Ms. Rebecca would murder me if I allowed that to happen.” Carter lead me up the staircase and through a set of double doors. Immediately I heard the loud chatter of teenages as we stepped into the gorgeous bar. All the tables and booths were protected by a bright red cloth, the bar and floors were made of the same dark wood that shined underneath the golden light that filled this place. Behind the bar were frost covered glass cabinets with different kinds of soda and juice inside, one had different flavor of milk, there was an alcoholic side but it clearly said one drink, 18 or older. A few waiters and waitress around dressed in black pants and polos all looking to be either in high school or a bit older. Behind the bar was the only actually adult looking person. She wasn’t a jepei user and appeared to be middle aged, she was wearing an a plaid apron around her waist. She had straight brown hair that spin into curls at the end, she had motherly face and even from here her hands seemed worn from hard work.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhzttTKd2h
Carter pulled out on the long legged stools for me and pushed me into the bar. He took a seat beside us and a moment later this woman came walking over. “I was wondering where you went to so quickly.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboaQ1hqwyG
“I left at a moderately quick pace.” Carter defended.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnuz1x62Ru
“Boy you ran out of here like the place was on fire.” She turned her calm gaze towards me and she had bright white eyes. “I can see why, I don’t think I have seen you in my bar before. My name is Rebecca Frost.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoaIl9Qeg9
“A pleasure to meet you.” Now that she was closer to me, I was wrong, she did have jepei energy, it was just a very light white color that even skilled jepei users might miss. “What is something that you would order? Both a drink and something to eat.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbxNDySBFR
This woman placed a hand on her chin for a moment before pointing at the menu in front of us. “Do you enjoy spicy food by chance?” She asked, earning a slight nod from me. “Well then I would suggest either our famed buffalo wings or perhap our sweet heat chicken sandwich.” I had never had chicken wings before so I ordered those. “Excellent, and as for the drink.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oM03dDVYi
This woman cracked her knuckles before taking out three different fruit juices. She added a bit of crushed ice, some kind of syrup like liquid. Afterwards she carefully poured mango, pineapple and orange juice turning the drink into a light orange and red mix. She finished off this drink with a few cherries and a slice of pineapple. “A little something, I call Tropical Fruit punch, on the house today.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYykSKGeB4U
“It looks delicious.” I said taking a small sip and I felt my eyes go wide for a moment. “It tastes better than it looks.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjs4LAl7IJ
“Thank you for that, my dear.” She pointed towards Carter. “Do you want the usual today, Carter? ”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IO6jLWkcM
“Of course, and I’ll take my usual burger. Medium, no pickles.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvVIv12Rmc
Rebecca interrupted him. “I already know child, medium, no pickles, no grilled onions, extra grilled peppers and pepper jack instead of american.” In a flash she whipped up another drink, this one a bright green color. “Lime fusion, extra ice, no garnish.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGHQsJRsU0
“I couldn’t do this without you, Rebecca.” Carter said, taking his drink and lifting it towards me. “To a wonderful evening.” Our glasses cling together and for a minute we just sat in silence enjoying our drinks. “What made you reach out to me?”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEd1hwzrVpw
“I had a bad day, and you did tell me to text you if I needed someone to talk to.” I explained simply.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRTIykaapK
“Well you definitely chose the perfect night for it. Thursday is the calm before the weekend storm, not so busy that people get a bit too annoying for my liking.” He said, rolling his eyes. “What happened that has put you in such a sour mood.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYU8WIhjnS
“I meet someone from The Dark Order today.” I said softly. “I had questions about something my target told me and I met your mother at her favorite spot. She was talking with someone named Serena Blackthorn.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObZh6Fd8JQ
“I see,” Carter had a grime look across his face. “Lady Blackthorn is technically my mother's boss, she is very interested in the relics my mother gets her hands on and now with this war for the trident starting. I am guessing you saw that pour tiger spirit of hers.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHRiZ6oYWR
“Y-Yes,” I hated the slight choke that escaped my voice. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, taking a napkin and wiping my eyes for a second. “It’s just, I didn’t really know much about the world aside from the news and the internet. I had only read about the dark order and what they do to their animal spirits to get them to remain submissive to them. I just thought they were maybe exaggerating but seeing it face to face with my own eyes. It was hard.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYYYr56J8H
“No reason to apologize. It was hard for me and my sister when we first saw her as well. The Dark Order does things that peta would probably wage war over if they knew.” Carter said getting a small giggle from me. “As someone that is thought that their animal spirit is a part of them, it is hard to see someone abuse their own spirit like that.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhCHaxRMFH
“Who is the wolf that is around you?” I asked.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1R6xnN83C
“You mean Chase?” He nodded off to the orange wolf that was sitting between us. “Spirit of the wolf, he has been with me since I was five years old. I was a later bloomer than my sister Chloe. She told me that you and her fought for a bit before she went to meet Captain Serena.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyDT0rpD0m
“A fight that I was gonna win but admirable she is a good fighter, a lot stronger than she looks.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQyITNUkBX
“She tends to hide how good she truly is, a way to get her opponent to underestimate her.” Carter explained.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01Cga6u4km
We chatted for another ten minutes or so, he was very nice and funny, making me giggle more than anyone had in my life. He also had a calming spirit to him that made it easy to talk to him. I learned that he was 15 years old making him a year older than me. He had been running this bar since he was 13 years old. He was three minutes older than Chloe, a fact he loved to rub in her face. Speaking of Chloe, around the time my wonderfully chicken wings arrived and his burger came. Chloe came stumbling up the stairs. “Oh Lord, Chloe what do you want?” Carter said, sitting his burger down.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxlGXzvKJ8
Chloe was wearing a black dress that sparkled with golden sparks as it reflected the light from the room. “Did you really make my friends wait outside your stupid nightclub in the cold?”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFr1xo1oqWN
“If you mean your annoying friends that insulted my friend here then yes, yes I did.” Carter said with a smug smirk. “I believe you know mother’s assassin, I think you two spent some time on a boat today.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTM2kncQye
“Yes I know, Ivy.” Chloe pulled out a stool and sat down on my right. “Ms. Rebecca, cherry lemon fusion, extra cherries on top.” Rebecca looked over at her with a small thumbs up. “You are lucky I enjoy this woman’s company or I would have told on you for having this nightclub in the first place.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduIchGMwnM
“Technically I don’t own it, I just help run it. And if you bring me down, I am taking you down with me. Don’t forget little sister, I was the one the forged the signature on your last report from school.” Chloe’s face turned deep scarlett as she turn away from us. 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByPMCMXbWE
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyTj8YTlwT
“You are truly insufferable, you know that don’t you.” Chloe growled as she took the glass given to her. The top of the chilled glass was red while the bottom was yellow, it was piled high with cherries. She popped one of the cherries in her mouth before turning her gaze on to me. “Why are you here anyway?” She asked. “Having a celebratory drink after finding the girl you were hired to kill.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ufjBfv6km
“I need to get out for a night and your brother was kind enough to give me his number for something like this.” I answered taking one of the saucy chicken wings from my plate.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakf4UldjBw
“She ran into Lady Blackthorn today and saw you know what.” Carter added.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rpmIGVPIS
A small hint of sympathy appeared on Chloe’s face. “It was the first time you saw something like that wasn’t it?” I slowly nodded my head. “I’m sorry, you had to see that.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhT07TDijvp
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll get over it soon enough.” I said. “That woman is weird, she insisted that I drink wine with them during lunch.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3zsk7XNwd
“Let me guess.” Chloe cleared her voice before rudely mimicking Lady Blackthorn’s voice. “My mother let me have my first taste of wine when I was little younger than you were.” She guessed correctly, making me laugh. “Honestly something that you shouldn’t be so proud to share.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6JDuD8cGF
“Does your mother work for the dark order?” I asked.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCfVyRgOTa
“I told you already,” Carter spoke up. “She technically works for Lady Blackthorn only, she just has a lot more freedom to do what she want to do.” Carter explained that I was almost annoyed that I had asked about that. “We would never join that horrible order, not after what they do to their spirit animals and other animals.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3z1nwvpiX
“Enough about that bitch.” Chloe spoke up. “How is the search going for our mothers target?”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0CMFCm6LZ
“Well I have a few ideas where she is, ranging from a home in brooklyn, to maybe a hospital she helps out at a lot, and a church located in east harlem.” I answered. “I am waiting for her to try something when the next shipment your mom orders comes. If what she is looking for is inside of that ship, she will go there. Have you two faced her before?”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyA1UpEI7Kg
“Who do you think was trying to get her before you showed up?” Chloe asked. “Because of our spirit animals we can track smell pretty good, but whatever animal spirit she has is very good at masking her scent. Somekind of dragon spirit if I am not wrong.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPIwNuOgoN
“The god of the dragons or rather goddess in this case.” I answered. “Have you fought her?”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYvS5doKrV
“I am not ashamed to say that nearly killed me.” Carter said with a small sigh. “Her flexibility and speed are annoyingly perfect in combination.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEPRZCD11r
“She faced me on one of the boats a week ago. I managed to fight her off but she gave me this nasty wound.” Chloe stopped to pull up her dress in the back exposing a deep white scar on her lower back. “I underestimated her.” She admitted. “After that momma decided that maybe it was best to hire someone that could take her down easier.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmAO1asMtZ
“She didn’t wanna risk losing one of you.” I said getting two small smiles from the twins. “It is a shame the Oren don’t share that idea. We are trained from birth to be the people called to handle stuff like this. I suppose I should do better at it.” I paused for a moment and shook my head a few times. “Where did that thought come from?” I wondered to myself.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64B3HzNcmK
Once I had finished my food it was Chloe that took my hand. “Come on, let's go dance or something, let my brother take your dishes back like a gentleman.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82MTCz3xDc
“I could kick both of you out of my night club.” Carter called out as Chloe pulled me away.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkOpEvqOyl
“If you wanna dance with her, come and find us!” Chloe said and once we were far enough away she spilled the tea on something I had a feeling about. “My brother has a stupid crush on you.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GvgnhQN2g
I nearly stumbled on a step at that revelation. “Why do you say that?”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRjWlVsDVA
“He doesn’t give anyone his number or let them skip the line outside.” Chloe explained taking my cap off my head and throwing it into an open locker nearby. “Trust me you are not gonna want that hat on inside of this place.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTQB0so0cZ
Before I could ask what she meant, she pushed open one of the doors. We were standing on a high platform, with two sets of stairs spiritual down in the corners. We looked over a large dance floor that was either dark purple or black. A large group of people were dancing down on the white dance floor that was constantly changing colors from blue, red, and green. Across from us on another platform was a DJ stand with two people behind it. Away from the dance floor were a few more tables with more servers bringing down drinks, narrowing dodging people coming off the floor. Chloe took my hand and brought me down these spirally steps and as soon as I stepped onto the dance floor which now had taken a solid red color. I don’t know why but I felt alive for a moment, my body trembled with excitement. I was never allowed to go to parties like this and now with no worry of what might happen if people see too much, about failure, about what adult eyes might see. I felt free to do whatever I wanted.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvKmvwqo8s
I took off one of my wrist bands and quickly tied my hair back and just let myself get engulfed in the music. I didn’t care about a few people that bumped into me, I didn’t care about how I looked. I just laughed and twirled like a true princess, grooving to this beat an odd mix of dubstep music, pop songs remakes, even an odd country song that one of the dj’s played with an electric cello. At some point, Carter arrived and we mostly danced together for the hour or so. He was just as funny dancing as he was talking, not that he was a bad dancer but he always found ways to suddenly make me laugh and giggle with glee. Eventually we stepped off the dance floor onto one of the few tables near the back. My throat was ragged from laughing, my shoulders slumped from how tired I was, my forehead and neck covered in sweat, but my smile never left. I looked over at the orange hair Chloe who had amazing stamina as she was going as hard if not harder than when we started.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKFQADlmJt
“Want something to drink?” Carter called out, nearly having to yell over the bass.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZJnHqVD6a
“Yes please.” I called back. “Can I get another tropical punch?”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGjgNHGRzX
“Mason!” Carter waved over to one of the server boys, a tall black boy with long braids. “Can I get a tropical punch and tell Rebecca to get my favorite for me.” Mason rolled his eyes before walking back towards us and up the spiral stairs. As he went Carter slipped what looked to be at least 200 dollars into his polo pocket. “How are you enjoying things?”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uwUxKSCGk
“I can say for a fact that this is gonna go down as one of the best days of my life. At least top five.” I said, whipping my face off with a few napkins. The last time I had sweat this much was when I fought Ori. A few minutes later, Mason returned with our drinks and the juice tasted even better on my dry mouth. “Your life seems like so much fun.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTlFCvxMi9
“My life isn’t all that good.” Luckily the music died down a bit as one of the dj’s seemed to be going on break. The lights came on the dance floor as it was quickly being wiped off and swept. His orange eyes seemed a bit brighter now and cuter, it was just coming to me that I had never really had a crush before and I think I was forming one very quickly. Carter went on a bit more. “This is the only real freedom I have, I go to school, train, and learn history and business for my mother. IN comparison to yours, I am just a smart, kinda spoiled, rich kid.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ624k59lIEF
“With a cool nightclub for teenages.” I said with a small smile. “Your life is tamed, you can go to school, go where you want without your mother being on your case everyday. I am a princess to a throne of blood, a princess that can only leave her palace when someone needs to die. Up until now I hadn’t even left my home city, never seen snow fall, eaten cheap food and when I finish and go home I just get to wait until someone summons me like a dog.” I hung my head for a moment allowing the walls I always kept up to break down just a bit. “Force to hate what your people hate, forced to believe what your people believe, and even if I find someone that I love. I just get to pass this life onto my future children, my people are supposed to be proud and strong. Yet we serve the highest bidders, follow money, can’t let our own moral compass get in the way of the job at hand. The Oren aren’t strong, we are slaves to money and power.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGeWCx6Lgr
“Isn’t everyone?” Carter asked hesitantly, reaching out to take my hand. “Look, I am not some wise guy or anything but I do know one wise thing that my dad told me before he passed away. Sometimes the best way to be free is in secret, sometimes the best way to have fun is behind closed doors, and sometimes the people you decide to let into the doors are the ones truly meant to be in you8r life.” Carter smiled at me before summoning his wolf spirit. “Chase, tell, Dorhtey Ann to play song fifteen.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAO6GxRM98
His wolf bounded off and Carter took my hand. “How about one more dance? It is getting late and I need to shut this place down at 11:30, my permit forces me to.”
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HCN8xrqkC
I nodded my head and he pulled me to the center of the room. The dance floor took on a pink hue and even the light lowered to a light pink color. “What are you gonna do now?” I asked.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjeEr5VoJi
His face turned a bright red. “Let me a disney protagonist for a few moments, Lady Ivy.” At that moment a song I recognized from Mr. Benny’s collection began to play. Here and Now, By Luther Vandross.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAyAnVVA6b
I slowly nodded my head and allowed him to put one hand on my hip and the other on shoulder. He took the lead and a few more couples joined us on the dance floor. We slowly rocked back and forth, both of us probably having matching blushes. I had seen slow dances on TV and Zinnie made me dance with her once at our aunt's birthday party. However, this was far different, and far better, the lighting and the music made my heart ready to fly out of my chest. At some point, I moved close, wrapping my arms around his stomach. He tensed for a moment but brought his chin to rest on the top of my head. I heard him lightly singing the song as well a soft sound that was perfectly balanced with this singer's powerful and lovely voice. My heart stopped beating so hard and I seemed to melt against him.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmloaawka2z
Once the song ended I found myself looking up at him staring into those bright orange eyes that almost looked like setting suns in this light. “Thank you,” I whispered. I broke away from him. “W-Where is the bathroom?” I asked.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3LHwdEzw6
“Up the steps in the main lobby.” Carter said his cheeks were taking on a bright color once more.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGZSnrviDF
I nodded my head and went to leave but before I knew it. I was on my tiptoes and planted a small kiss on his cheek before hurrying off. My face practically burning at this point. I turned back to look at him and he had a hand to his cheek and a wide grin on his face.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMPkGrhdxA
As soon as I reached the bathroom, I slammed the door behind me and immediately went to a nearby sink and began to splash ice cold water onto my face. Trying to desperately cool my flamed cheeks. “Get it together, Ivy, you are.” I started to tell myself when one of the stall doors behind me opened up. I looked up at the mirror and my heart nearly sunk into my stomach. “Of course you are fucking here.” I whispered to myself.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoMYxq53iy
Ori was standing behind me looking just as shocked as I was.
222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXCPQirvTE
